Typewriting machine



J. A. B. SMITH TYPEWRITING MACHINE Feb. 16 1926'.

Fileq may 21, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 hvenfar:

Affarxrey- J. A. B. SMITH TYPEWRITING MAC'HINE Feb. 1 1926.

Filed May 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 W e/7f.-

Feb. 16 1926. I 1,573,424

J. A. B. SMITH TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed May 1, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 16 1925. 1,573,424

J. A. B. SMITH TYPEWRITING mom m Filed May 21, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 hare/War:

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K)? C M Affomey Patented Feb, 16, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JESSE A. B. SMITH, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD TYPE- WRITER, COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION OF DELAW'ARE.

TYPEWRI'IING MACHINE.

Application filed May 21, 1923.

To a whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jnssn A. ll. Sairru, a citizen of the United States, residing in Stamford, in the county of Fairlield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Typewritmg hjlachines, of which the following 1s a specification.

This invention relates to machines for typing upon paper work-webs, upon which is usually printed a succession of forms, the web usually consisting of several plies having corresponding forms printed thereon said plies being sometimes loose and at other times forming a fan-folded web.

One of the main objects of the invention is to construct a machine of this character which shall be light-er and of simpler construction and less expensive than the typewriting machines usually employed for this purpose. A further object is to simplify and expedite the operation of securing the necessary relative shifting between the webs and the sheets of manifolding carbon-paper which interleave the webs, such relative shifting enabling the same carbons to be used repeatedly, that is, for typing succesrive forms on the webs.

In the Underwood round-platen machine, it has been the practice to displace the platen upwardly to permit the multiple-ply web to be straightened out, so as to permit the carbon-sheets to be shifted back along the web while the latter is stationary; it being the usual practice to provide the letter-feeding. paper carriage with a swinging frame upon which to mount the platen, so that it can be displaced upwardly; and it being also the practice to employ a carrier to run forwardly and backwardly on tracks in rear of the platen, the carbol'i-sheets being attached to said arrier, to feed forwzu'dly therewith during the advance of the webs at the line-by-line typing operation. and to be shifted backwardly independently of the work-web preparatory to typing the next printed form upon the web.

According to the present improvements, the platen is not raised, as heretofore, but remains in its accustomed position at the mperat'ion of effecting the relative shif ing Serial No. 640,315.

of carbon'sheets and work-webs. At the beginning of the typing of a form, the web preferably hangs in a loop, or is otherwise given a great deal of slack at a point between the source of supply and the platen. Preferably the web has a guide or support at the rear end of a frame that is extended backwardly from the typewLiter-carriage, and travels therewith, the web hanging from said support forming a slack or loop between said support and the platen. From said loop or slack the web rises and extends forwardly over the top of the inclined rear paper-shelf usually provided on the typewriter-carriage, and thence extends down to .he platen. The rear ends of the carbonsheets are also attached to said support or guide at the back of the real-wardly-extended carriage-frame, so that the carbon-sheets also have a slack and hang between the plies of web in said loop and extend forwardly between the plies to or above the printing line on the front ofthe platen. The rear ends of the *arbons are attached to stationary blades, which extend between the workweb plies and may constitute part of the supporting and guiding means therefor.

As the typing proceeds line by line, the forward portion of the web feeds upwardly from the loop, advancing to and around the rotating platen, and said loop or other slack is taken up, either partially or wholly; the web remaining stationary at the point where it is held by said supporting and guiding or l'iolding means on said traveling frame. In this manner the typing of a form is completed.

The form which is first typed as aforesaid, is, however, the second form which is printed on the web; the first form still remaining at tached to the web, but never typed, and eventually being wasted.

After the typing of the form is conu leted, as aforesaid, the platen is rolled backwardly, and hence. the work-web with the interleaved c2 rbons is fed back. this retraction of the work-webs and carbons having the effect of restoring the slack condition thereof, and continuing until the leading edges of the o-zubomsheets have run back to a point $\fl1(l(" they are free of the plat n;

' web.

the work-webs, however, still extending around the platen; this portion of the web comprising the untyped leading form on the This is done preparatory to pulling forward the work-webs independently of the interleaved carbons. In 'order to accomplish this independent shifting forward of thework-web, it is necessary for the carbons to be put into an unslack condition, or made more or less nearly taut. To produce this condition, the slack in the work-webs and carbons is mechanically taken up. This is done preferably by means of a lifter or table, which may, for convenience, be struck on the arc of a large circle, and may be mounted on a frame which is hinged at its front end to the typewritor-carriage, so that it may hang idly in rear of the typewriter when not wanted, and may at the proper time be swung up at its rear end until the work-web and carbons become smoothed out, or the slack therein becomes taken up or nearly so. When the slack is thus substantially taken up, the leading end of the workweb (at the front of the platen) may be grasped and pulled forwardly, its plies slipping forwardly under the platen and over or past the carbons, which remain stationary, the carbons remaining attached at their rear ends to the aforesaid rear cnd of the carriage-frame-extension. It will be understood that the work-web is temporarily released from the usual feed-rolls at this time.

i This relative shifting of webs and carbons may proceed to an extent eq al to the depth of one form on the work-web. Then the arched table, being no longer needed for taking up the slack and having afforded a non-binding surface for the relative shifting operation, may be swuig down to a posi tion of disuse, and the web may again be permitted to fall into a loop or other slack condition, there being again suflicient slack to permit the next form to be con'ipletely typed by the time such slack is about taken Said rear paper-shelf usually extends upvwardly and rearwardly from the platen;

and this shelf may be about tangential to the arched table when the latter is in its elevated or working position. This conduces to easy slipping between the forwardly pulled work-webs and the stationary carbons at the shifting operation. The are of the shifting table may be of relatively slight curvature, so as to minimize or avoid bind ing between the carbons and the plies of web at the shifting operation.

When the web has been pulled forwardly, as aforesaid, preparatory to typing a succeeding form thereon, the first form (which remains untyped) may be torn off by the use of a knife mounted transversely in the machine in position to register with the top oi: a farm which has been completely typed;

a gage being provided to which to set the leading edge of the web preparatory to tearing oil the untyped form from said web, and also preparatory to typing another form.

Thcreupon the typing of the succeeding form proceeds, the untyped form still remaining attachcul to the web. After the typing of said succeeding form has been completed, the webs and carbons are rolled back as before, thus again. producing a slack. The slack is taken up before, the webs are again pulled forward while the carbons remain stationary, until the top edge of the first typed form reaches the gage, whereupon said. first typed form is torn ofl. Thus the typing proceeds, form by f0 11, until the web is used up.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure l is a sectional elevation showing a fragment of the machine shown in Figure 2, but showing the composite web retired sufliciently to clear the carbons from the platen.

Figure 2- is a sectional elevation taken longitudinally through the typewritingma chine, and showing the positions of the parts preparatory to typing a fresh form on the web, the web being shown as having a slack in the form of a loop in the machine; and at its leading end illustrating the operation of tearing off the first forru.- V

liigure 3 is a sectional elevation similar to Figure 2, but illustrating the manner of taking up the slack preparatory to relative edgewise shifting of the carbons and plies of work-web. V V

Figure is a fragmentary diagrammatic sectional view similar to Figure showmg the webs advanced independentl'v of the carbons sutliciently to bring the neirt form on the webs to position to receive tyne impressions through the carbons. I i

=l igure 5 is view similar to Fi r urc l, but showing the composite webs advanced from the Figure 4 position to position for typing the following form thereon.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the machine, and shows the parts in the position. indicated in Figure 2. V

Type bars l0 strike against the front of a revoluble platen 11, which is journaled as usual in a platen-frame (.Oll'lpllSlDQ' ends 12 and a rear paper-shelf 13. 'll'r usual releasable feed-rolls 14 run upon the under side of the platen. The plateni'rame is mounted upon a carriage 15, which slides along a rail 16 for letter-feeding movements. The platen is rotated line by line by means of the ordinary line-spacing mechanism, comprising a line-space wheel 17.

The work-web, usually comprising superposed plies 18 (which may be loose plies or else may consist of a fan-folded web), may be drawn up from a supply-spool or from a zigzag folded pile 19, which may be contained in a receptacle arranged in rear of'the typewriting machine and its stand 21. As the plies of work-web rise from the supply at 19, they pass up through a support or guide, which may comprise a front guide-bar 22 and a rear guide-bar 23; these bars spaced sufficiently to accommo date the plies or web confined therebetween, and also sufficiently to accommodate a number of blades 24, 25, which are inserted between the plies of work-web, and upon which are caught sheets of carbon 26 which extend upwardly between the plies of work-web. These blades may point in opposite directions between the plies, especially when the web is fan-folded; and each -wblade may be supported at its hilt upon one of the web-guiding end-pieces 27 by which the front and rear guide-bars 22 and 23 are connected. The parts 22, 23, 2? taken together may form an eye or guidebracket which is fixed upon the front of a traveling bar 28, the latter forming a portion of a framework that is secured to the typewriter-carriage 15 to travel therewith; said bar 28 having a roll 29 to run upon a rail 30, and also'having afinger 31 to catch under the rail to prevent lifting of the frame. Said frame also comprises upwardly and forwardly extending opposite arms 32, attached by screws 33 to the ends of the bar 28, and connected at their front ends to the ends ofthe typewriter-carriage 15. The web guiding and holding device therefore travels with the typewriter-carriage.

At Figure 2 is shown the composite web, comprising work-webs 18 and interleaved carbons 26-, all in slack condition, preparatory to the typing of a form upon the web; the slack being preferably in the form of a loop 34 hanging down in front of the guiding and supporting means 22 and behind the platen 11, the slack being sufficient to permit the completion of the line-by-line typing of a form printed on the web as the slack is taken up.

The rail is'supported on the rear ends of fixed arms 35, which are spread or separated sufiiciently to permit the requisite edgewise travel of the loop of composite web as it conforms with the movements of the paper-carriage 15; said arms 35 being fixed by screws 37 or otherwise to the rear end of the base 38 of the typewriting machine.

At Figure 5 is shown diagrammatically the composite web drawn forwardly far enough to permit the carbons 26 to extend above theprinting point 39 at the front of the platen; this position of the web being adj ustedor determined by means of a leading-edge gage 40, which is mounted upon a staff 41,.which extends upwardly under and beyond a front paper-table 42, the latter extending upwardly and rearwardly from the top front portion of the platen, that is, from its delivery side.

From the Figure position the first typing of a form proceeds line by line, the slack 34 in the composite web being gradually taken up as the typing proceeds; and the typing of the form is finished as soon as or before the slack at 34 is all taken up. At this time the leading edge of the web extends up beyond the gage 40, and the interleaved carbons 26 extend up along the front paper-table 42.

Upon the completion of the first typing of a form, (i. 0., the second printed form on the web), the platen is rotated backwardly by means of the usual end knob or fingerpiece 43, until the requisite slack in the composite web is produced again at 34, or until the interleaved carbons 26 have been retired to a point in rear of the platen or its feed-rolls 14, as at Figure 1. For this purpose, the retraction of the composite web proceeds until the leading edge of the web uncovers a gage or indicator 43, at which point the retraction of the web ceases, Figure 1.

This retirement of the plies of work-web and carbons to the Figure 1 position is preparatory to effecting a relative longitudinal shift between said work-plies and the carbons, which is to be effected while the carbons remain stationary. It will be borne in mind that the carbon-sheets are fixed to the blades 24, 25, and that the latter are fixed to the guide-bracket or frame 22 and carriage-bar It is desired to pull the work-webs or plies 18 forwardly while the carbons are stationary until the form on the web, which succeeds the form just typed, is advanced far enough to co-operate with said carbons for typing thereon. In other words, the extent of the relative shifting between carbons and work-webs should equal the depth of a printed form.

Preparatory to effecting this relative longitudinal shift, it desired to take up the slack in the carbons (which is understood at Figure 1), or tauten them more or less, so that they will not themselves be dragged along or caused to advancewhen the plies of work-web are pulled forward; To take up the slack of the carbons there may be used a suitable device, as, for example, a table 44, broadly curved from front to rear, which may be made of sheet-metal, and may be mounted upon a pair of end frames 45, which, by means of a rod 46, are hinged to upstanding arms 47, the latter secured at their lower ends at 48 to the typewritercarriage 15. The swinging frame may thus comprise the end franuss as, the curved table 44, and the hinge rod 46, and may normally hang (Figures 1, 2 and 5) between the side arms 32 of the rearward" carriage-extension, and extend down behind the typewriting machine and the desk; the side arms 32 being connected by a rod or bar 4:9 at their forward ends, and affording a support against'which said .curved table-frame may hang.

From the idle position at Figure 1 the table-frame may be swung up by means of any suitable form of handle or operating means 50, connected in'any suitable manner, as for instance to one of the side frames 45 thereof, to the position shown at Figure 3, to take up the slack in the composite web. A pin 51 on one of the frames 45 may engage a stop 52 provided on an arm 53 rising from one of the frame-arms 32, to limit the upward stroke of the curved table-frame.

The operator, by means of the handle 50, may now hold said tautening table or frame 4 1 in elevated position with one hand, while with the other hand he may turn the platenknob 13 to rotate the platen forwardly with its feed-rolls 1 1 and thereby feed or shift the plies of work-web 18 forwardly and inde pendently of the carbons 26, that is, while the latter remain stationary or unadvanced. This independent advance of the work-webs continues until the leading edge of the work- ,web at 54 strikes a gage 55 provided upon the staff 41 below the gage 4L0. This advance of the web while the carbons are stationary is sufficient in extent to bring the carbons to position to co-operate with the next printed form.

Having so shifted forward the plies of work-web, the operator releases the handle 50, and permits the shift-table la to drop to the idle position (Figure 2) thus permitting slack. to form again at 34 The operator then revolves the platen forwardly, thereby advancing the composite web until it strikes gage 10, Figure 5, thus bringing the carbons to position to co-operate with the types 10,

and positioning the new form properly for the reception of the first line of typing; and the typing of the new form then proceeds line by line as before.

Preferably before the typing of a new form begins, the first form may be torn off from the web by means of a knife-edge 58, as indicated at Figure 2, said knife being secured above the front paper-table 42. The latter may have an opening (30 midway of its ends, through which may be seen the staff 41 and the gage 4-3 thereon. The leading edge of the web passes up beneath the knife 58, or between the same and the front table 4-2. lhe first form at the top of the web is wasted, not having been typed. The second form, which is typed, and which now becomes the new top form, remains in the machine until the typing of the second following form is about to begin, whereupon such new top form is torn off by the knifeedge 58. Thus it results that one typed. form always remains in the machine, for convenience in manipulating and gaging the work-webs and carbons. independently adjustable along the staff.

It will be seen at Figure 3 that the rear paper-table 13 may be about tangential to the curve or arch of the elevated curved paper-table 44, or at least that the reach of composite web at 56 may be tangential to both the curved table and the platen, thus avoiding at this place the carrying of the composite web over sharp bends or corners, which would tend to cause the carbons to bind between the plies of work-Web, and

would therefore hinder or prevent the desired relative slipping of the carbons and work-web plies at the described shifting or readjusting operation. The curvature of the table 44L may be very slight, so as to conduce to free slipping between the work-web plies and the carbon-sheets during such shifting operation. It will be seen that at its front end the curved table is preferably in rear of the platen, and preferably above the same, so that the reach 56 of the web need not turn over any sharp corners; the table curving upfrom its front end, and gradually changing the path of the web by curving backwardly and then downwardly to a point abovethe stationary guide 22, 23, and being in such relation thereto that the reach of composite web 57 may extend clownwardly tangentially from the paper-table and vertically through the guides, so as to avoid turning this portion also of the composite web over any corners. Thus the web may rise from the supply spool or pack, into the typewriting machine at 22 and change its direction of t'avel gradually upwardly, forwardly and downwardly to the platen, in such a manner that undue friction or binding between the plies of the web may be avoide during the pulling forward of the web for the relative shifting operation.

Instead of rolling back the composite web by hand to the position at Figure 1, and then lifting the curved shifter-table 4A- to take up the slack, another method may be adopted for retracting the composite web, as follows: Depress the usual key 61 to release the feed-rolls 14 from the platen, then swing forward the handle 50 to lift the curved table 44-, thereby raising the composite web, the slack in which, it will be remembered, has at this time all or nearly all been taken up during the line-by-line typing operation. This lifting operation may proceed until the composite web is drawn backwardly around the platen as far as the position thereof which is indicated at Figure 1; that is, until the leading edge of the first form. reaches said bottom gage The gages may be 26 need to be carbonized.

43; whereupon the rolls 14 may be restored and the finger-wheel 43 may then be used to revolve the platen to feed forward the work webs while the carbons remain stationary, this final portion of the shifting operation being the same as above described. It will be understood that when the curved or arched table 44 is lifted, it does not pull the carbons forwardly from the support 22, andthev' ork-webs at this rear portion also remain stationary, while at the forward portion the work-web yields or retracts, that" is, the portion which is extended around the platen.

Only the forward portions of the sheets The rear portions, upon which no type impressions ever fall, may be mere blank paper or other flexible material.

The severing knife 58 may be made adjustable to accommodate different lengths of forms, being, for this purpose, connected by screws or fastening devices 62 to arms or brackets 63 extending upwardly from the ends of the front paper-shelf 42, and having slots (i l to accommodate the adjustment of the attaching screws 62, the latter passing through the slots.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the iinprovementsinay be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A typewriting machine of the character set forth,including a revoluble linespacing platen mounted permanently in typing position, means for holding in fixed position, relatively to the platen, the rear ends of carbon-sheets interleaved between thelslack plies of work-web, and a slack-take up forming awork-supporting table and movable relatively to the carbon-holding means and the platen, for taking up the slack in the composite web.

2. A typewriting machine of the char acter set forth, including a revoluble linespacing platen mounted permanently in typing position, a carriage therefor, means for detaining the rear ends of carbon-sheets interleaved between the slack plies of workweb, a frame extending rearwardly from the carriage for securing the carbondetaining I'neans thereto for movement therewith,

said frame including side portions spaced tween the work-web plies and forming therewith a composite web, while the slack in the composite web is taken up by the linefeeding of the platen, and a curved websupporting table or frame mounted for movement to take up the slack.

l. A typewriting machine of the character set forth, including a revoluble linespacing platen, mounted permanently in typing position, means for holding in fixed position, relatively to the carriage, the rear ends of carbon-sheets which are interleai 'ed between the slack plies of work-web and which terminate short of the leading edges of the plies of work-web, and a strippertake up movable relatively to the carbonholding means and the platen, for taking up the slack in the composite web, said stripper-take up being in the form of a broadly curved lifter or table, said lifter being so placed, relatively to the platen, that the plies of work-web may extend in a straight line between the lifter and the platen and about tangentially to both so that the plies of work-web may be stripped forwardly, from the stationary carbons, over said curved lifter.

1A typewriting machine of the character set forth, having a revoluble linespacing platen, a carriage on which said platen is mounted, and a frame extending backwardly from said typewriter carriage and connected to travel therewith, said frame having at its rear a guide or support which guides the work-web upwardly, said rear support also having means for attachment of the rear ends of interleaved carbonsheets thereto, and web-tautening means' gradually changing the path of the workweb from a vertical direction to-a forward and downward direction toward the platen.

G. A typewriting machine of the character set forth, including a revolublc linespacing platen, mounted permanently in typing position, means for holding in fixed position, relatively to the carriage, the rear ends of carbon-sheets which are interleaved between the slack plies of work-web and which termiiiate short of the leading edges of the plies of work-web, a gage at the de livery side of the platen to which the lead ing edges of the plies of work-web are set table, to indicate that the leading edges of the carbon-sheets are withdrawn from the platen, a stripper-take up movable relatively to the carbon-l'iolding means and the platen, for taking up the slack in the composite web, said stripper-take up being in the form of a broadly curved lifter or table, said lifter being so placed, relatively to the platen, that the plies of work-web may extend in a straight line between the lifter and the platen and about tangentially to both so that the plies oi. work-web may be stripped forwardly, from the stationary carbonsheets, oversaid curved lifter, and a knife at the delivery side of the platen for severing typed forms from the work-web.

7. The combination of a revoluble linespacing platen, means by which carbonsheets are held at their rear ends against advancing, means at said rear ends for guiding the work-web, and means movable for taking up slack between said holding means and the platen, said taking-up means being of a table form to permit relative shifting movement thereon between the carbons and the plies of work-web.

8. A typewriting machine of the character set forth, having a revoluble line-spacing platen, means arranged at the intake side of the machine for holding carbon-sheets by their rear portions against advancing, means being provided between said platen and said carbon-holding means for supporting in sufficiently slack condition a web comprising said carbons and plies of work-web,

to permit the web to be advanced line by line by the platen, and a table movable for taking up. subsequently made slack and supporting the taken-up web in sufficiently flat condition to permit relative longitudinal shift between the plies of work-web and the carbons. I p

9. A; machine of the character set forth, having a revoluble line-spacing platen, means for guidingin slack condition plies of work-web and interleaved carbons, means to hold back the carbons at their rear portions While permitting line-feeding of the forward end of the web and carbons, and manually-operable means for taking up the slack in the composite web, said take-up means being in the form of a broadly-curved lifter or table, supporting the web in condition to permit relative shifting between web and carbons,

10. A machine of the character set forth, comprising a revoluble line-spacing platen, means arranged at the intake portion of the machine for supporting or guiding a slack web, comprising plies of work-web and interleaved carbons, to permit line-feeding of the o forward end of the web, means to hold back the carbons at their rear portions, and manually-operable means for taking up the slack in the composite web and for affording relative sliding or shifting between the work-web plies and the carbons, said takeup means being in the form of a broadly-curved lifter or table, so placed that the plies of work-web in passing through said guiding means and to said lifter will extend about tangentially to the lifter.

11. A machine of the character set forth, comprising a revoluble line-spacing platen, means arranged at the intake portion of the machine for supporting or guiding a slack web, comprising plies of work-web and inter leaved carbons, to permit line-feeding of the forward end of the web, means to hold back the carbons at their rear portions, and manually-operable means for taking up the slack in the composite web and for affording relative sliding or shifting between the workweb plies and the carbons, said take-up means being in the form of a broadly-curved lifter or table, said lifter being so placed rela tively to the platen that the plies of workweb may extend-in a straight line between the lifter and the platen and about tangentially to both.

12. A machine of the character set forth, having a revoluble line-spacing platen, means guiding a slack web, comprising plies of work-web and interleaved carbons, means to hold back the carbons at their rear portions while the composite web is line-feeding, and a broadly-curved web-lifter or table, so placed that the plies of work-web in passing through said guiding means and to said lifter will extend about tangentially to the lifter, the plies of work-webtraveling in a substantially straight path in passing into the machine and to said lifter, said lifter being so placed relatively to the platen that the plies of work-web extend in a straight line between the lifter and the platen and about tangentially to both.

13. A machine of the character set forth, having a revoluble line-spacing platen, means to hold back slack carbons at their rear portions while at their forward portions they are line-spaced around the platen together with a slack work-web, and manually-operable means for taking up the slack, said takeup means being in the form of a broadlycurved lifter or table, said lifter being hinged to the typewriting machine and having a handle whereby it may be operated.

14:. A machine of the character set forth, including a revoluble line-spacing platen and a carriage therefor, means arranged at the intake portion of the machine for guiding slack plies of work-web and interleaved carbons, means to hold the carbons back at their rear portions during the line-feeding, and take-up means for slack in the form of a broadly-curved lifter or table, connected to said carriage, said carriage having a rear paper-shelf extending upwardly and rearwardly from the platen, and extending about tangentially to the lifter or table when the latter is in its elevated position to conduce V to easy slipping between the work-webs and the carbons.

15. The combination with a revoluble linespacing platen, of meansto line-feed the forward end of a slack web while its rear portion remains motionless, means to hold interleaved carbons back at their rear portions, and manually-operable means for taking up the slack in the workweb, said takeup means being in the form of a broadlycurved lifter or table, so formed that the path ofthe plies oi" work-web is upwardly from the supply to its point of entrance to the machine and thence in the same direction to the litter, and thence gradually curving forwardly to a horizontal direction and thence downwardly and in a straight line to the under side of the platen to minimize binding between the carbons and the plies of Web at the shifting operation. a

16. A typewriting machine of the character set forth, comprising a revoluble linespacing platen, means arranged at the intake side of the platen capable of supporting superposed plies of web in slack con- 'dition, stationary means for detaining by their ends one or more carbon-sheets interleaved between the work-web plies and formof the table in taking up the slack in the web.

17. 'A typewriting machine of the character set forth, comprising a revoluble linespacing platen, means arranged at the intake side of the platen capable of supporting superposed piles of web in slack condition, stationary means for detaining by their ends one or more carbon-sheets interleaved between the work-web plies and forming therewith a composite web, whereby the slack in the composite web is taken up by the line-feeding of the platen, a curved table or frame mounted or movement to take up the slack, and a stop to limit the movement of the table in taking up the slack in the web, provision being made for the adjustment of said stop to different positions to adapt the machine for use with printed forms of Various lengths.

JESSE A. B. SMITH. 

